Question

Were Black Codes just slavery in another form? Why or why not?

Read and analyze excerpts from the following sources:
・Mississippi Black Code, 1866
・South Carolina Black Code, 1865
・"Black Codes," Chicago Tribune, November 29, 1865
・"Reconciliation," Chicago Tribune, December 18, 1865

Answer 1

No, Black Codes were not just slavery in another form. The Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states in the aftermath of the Civil War that sought to restrict the rights of African Americans and limit their freedom. The Mississippi Black Code, for example, prohibited African Americans from owning firearms, serving on juries, and testifying against whites in court. The South Carolina Black Code prohibited African Americans from entering into contracts, owning property, and engaging in certain occupations.

The Chicago Tribune, in its November 29, 1865 article, noted that the Black Codes were "a system of laws which, in effect, re-establish slavery in all its worst features." However, the Tribune also noted that the Black Codes were "not slavery in the strict sense of the word," as they did not involve the buying and selling of people.

The Tribune's December 18, 1865 article, "Reconciliation," argued that the Black Codes were not slavery in another form, but rather a way to protect African Americans from exploitation and abuse. The article argued that the Black Codes were necessary to ensure that African Americans were treated fairly and had access to the same rights and privileges as whites. The article concluded that the Black Codes were "a step in the right direction" and that they should be seen as a way to promote reconciliation between the North and South.